[JoeS21]

When the doctor's receptionist and MassHealth don't know if Dr. takes MassHealth, what can you do?

Who is ultimately responsible for knowing if a doctor takes MassHealth Standard or not?

Who would likely know if a doctor takes MassHealth Standard or not?

I need to see a specialist and every specialist who CLEARLY takes MassHealth Standard is booked through December already. My insurance ends on December 31 and I found an appointment with the right kind of specialist in the same hospital as my primary care. - Trouble is, I cannot figure out if he takes my insurance or not.

What would you do?

[geis]

Did you call MassHealth and they couldn't answer? I mean, I've never been impressed by their customer service, but that's ridiculous. You could try calling back to talk to someone different, if you don't mind staying on the phone for 5 years. I've occasionally gotten some knowledgeable people in their call center.

I'm just shocked that a receptionist in a doctor's office wouldn't know what insurance they take. How do these people get those jobs?! I'm guessing if the specialist is networked through the same hospital that you know takes MassHealth, then the specialist would too. You might also call the hospital/network's billing office--they would be likely to know.

[JoeS21]

Originally Posted by geis

Did you call MassHealth and they couldn't answer? I mean, I've never been impressed by their customer service, but that's ridiculous. You could try calling back to talk to someone different, if you don't mind staying on the phone for 5 years. I've occasionally gotten some knowledgeable people in their call center.

I'm just shocked that a receptionist in a doctor's office wouldn't know what insurance they take. How do these people get those jobs?! I'm guessing if the specialist is networked through the same hospital that you know takes MassHealth, then the specialist would too. You might also call the hospital/network's billing office--they would be likely to know.

I called MassHealth and their reply was:
MassHealth "thinks" that everyone at Tufts Medical Center in Boston takes MassHealth Standard, but their list under that specialty only has a couple names on it. MassHealth isn't sure if the other specialists at Tufts take MassHealth Standard, but MassHealth "kind of thinks so." Supervisor doesn't know either.

I called the doctor's receptionist:
The receptionist said that she can't see why the doctor wouldn't take it, but cannot confirm that he does.

There's got to be a correct person to contact and I probably just don't know who it is.